Rope in AP Markfed to facilitate tobacco procurement, demands YSRCP chief Jagan
YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked the State government to rope in the Andhra Pradesh Market Federation (AP Markfed), instead of the Tobacco
YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked the State government to rope in the Andhra Pradesh Market Federation (AP Markfed), instead of the Tobacco Board, to facilitate tobacco procurement and enable competition among the bidders during the auctions to bring farmers out of distress. Accompanied by party East Godavari district president Ch. Venugopala Krishna and former MP Margani Bharat, the former Chief Minister inspected the tobacco yard at Devarapalli, the ongoing auctions at the yard, and enquired with the farmers about the market conditions and prices. Addressing the farmers later, he said that the Tobacco Board had promised procurement of 147 million kg of the produce across the State, but enabled procurement of barely 47 million kg of the total production of 238 million kg.
“The current average per-kg price is ₹236 as against ₹326 during the FY 2023-24. Barely ₹10 per kg has been increased a week ago following protests by the YSRCP,” Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed. “During 2019-24, we roped in the AP Markfed, which succeeded in creating competition among the bidders in the auctions. The NDA government needs to rope in the Markfed for better marketing and procurement,” he said. The former Chief Minister further claimed that his government had allocated ₹3,000 crore Price Stabilisation Fund for procurement of farm products during periods of farm distress. On crop loans at zero percent interest, he claimed that the farmers had been guaranteed a loan of ₹1 lakh at zero percent interest during the YSRCP term.
“The NDA government has cut this aid to ₹50,000,” he said. “At least seven lakh farmers, including tenants and those who hold RoFR pattas, have been denied aid under the PM Kisan scheme since 2024,” the YSRCP chief alleged. Referring to the challenges in the procurement of various agricultural and commercial crops, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “Instead of assuring support price for the crops, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu
Naidu says consumption of rice leads to cancer, consumption of chilli leads to acidity, consumption of mango causes diabetes, and tobacco is injurious to health. However, the YSRCP will fight to build pressure on the government for procurement of crops and support prices.” Earlier, YSRCP leaders and cadres from across the Godavari region and farmers joined Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy in a rally from Devarapalli to the tobacco yard.
The BriefWire